Disaster Housing Recovery Update -Monday, October 22, 2018

Hurricane Michael

Ten shelters housing over 1,500 people remain open throughout the state.

The Florida Housing Finance Corporation is helping those displaced by the storm find affordable rental housing through its service Socialserve. Those looking for housing can visit www.FloridaHousingSearch.org. Florida Housing will also initiate the State Housing Initiative Partnership (SHIP) program, which provides local governments with funds for homeownership and rental housing programs. Each fiscal year, Florida Housing can earmark up to $5 million for recovery efforts.

Many displaced residents of a public housing complex in Panama City, FL are camping out in the remains of their homes because they have no other place to stay or no access to transportation. Residents have been talking with legal services groups to combat misinformation and learn their rights. With rental options incredibly scarce and hotels booked, these tenants can either campout or relocate to a shelter.

SNAP recipients in Georgia can report food loss due to Hurricane Michael no later than October 31. Survivors must submit a Food Loss Replacement Form (Form 841) in person or by mail to a local DFCS office.

Hurricane Florence

North Carolina

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety reports that 383 households (over 1,000 individuals) are participating in FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance program and over 16,000 individuals have received rental assistance.

FEMA is now providing two forms of Direct Temporary Housing Assistance in ten North Carolina counties: travel trailers and manufactured housing units (MHUs). Trailers are intended for households that can complete repairs in less than a year, and MHUs is a longer-term solution for those with more substantial damage. FEMA will contact households that may eligible. These solutions are used in areas that FEMA determines to have insufficient rental options. An article from U.S. News & World Report states that at least 600 families are on the waiting list for travel trailers and mobile homes, but only a handful has received their trailer or MHU.